In our final service together in 2013, Pastor John leads the church in recounting the goodness of God over the past year. He used Hebrews 10:24-25 as a way to transition the service into a corporate time of encouragement. It says, "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Psalm 111:1 also says, "Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation."

This is the first message of three as we enter the Advent season leading up to Christmas. Joshua Sorrows taught today from Matthew 24 and Romans 4. Advent is a season to adore Jesus and have expectant waiting. Joshua encourages us to place our hope in the future return of Christ and to have an expectation in for Him to faithfully work in our lives today.

This week, John continues our short series on the power of God. We learn that in order to see the power of God move in our hearts, we must be available to His leading. Elizabeth Elliot said that "God will not protect you from anything that will make you more like Christ." The Father's will for us is to be conformed into the likeness of His Son (Romans 8:29) and wants to bring us into a continually greater relationship with Him. Therefore, the Father's call on our lives is to walk in unrelenting dependence upon Christ to accomplish what only Christ can do in us.

John continues a short series on our need for the power of God. Today he invites us again to lay ourselves at the feet of our Father to receive grace, which is the power of God to do His will, rather than be consumed with the things of the world and exhausted from our own inability to live the Christian life. John talks about the difference between living according to the flesh and living by Spirit of God within us. Only God's spirit within us can provide the power needed to accomplish God's will through us.

John is continuing a short series on the power of God. The last few
weeks we have talked about our need for the power of God and how
confession is a precursor to receiving his power. This week's message is
the pinnacle of the series and focuses on the power of the Gospel to
save sinners and to make us new. We rejoice with the Apostle Peter when
he says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

In asking God for His power, Acts 2 and 1 John teach that we must
prepare our hearts and first confess our sin against Him. Pastor John
continues our discussion on God's power and how we must orient our
hearts in obedience and repentance through confession to receive it.

Pastor John continues a short series from the book of Joshua. In it, we learn that God provides us boundaries for our good. In obedience to them, we learn that nothing is possible without God. It is His power alone that accomplishes His promises to us. Let us learn to plead to our Father for ever increasing filling of His power!

In light of our move into Lake Highlands, Pastor John continues a short series from the book of Joshua. Today John focused on Joshua 1:5-9. There, we see how God lovingly reminded Joshua to be very strong and courageous in taking the land that He promised to Israel. We can also take hope in knowing that our Father will be with us now and always, just as He was with Joshua.

Today was our first service at Scofield. In light of our move into Lake Highlands, Pastor John begins a short series from the book of Joshua. Today John focused on Joshua 1:1-9. He encourages us to "take the land" by being faithful to God's call, by trusting in His promises through faith, and to obey God's Word and voice. Finally, we are reminded that this is only possible when we know the love of our Father.

* Due to a technical issue during the service, there is some audio missing from the middle of the message.

This week our brother, Justus Murimi, shared his passion for the joy that comes from Jesus. Justus shared how God has transformed his life and dove into Luke 15:11-24, Hebrews 12:1-2, and Zephaniah 3:17 to encourage us to run toward the joy set before us in Christ.